Dr. Gore Therapy - Atlanta Family Therapist
Dr. David Karol Gore

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers (and a few jokes) about Dr. Gore's practice, fees, insurance, and how he works.

Do you watch the show “Shrinking”?
Yes, I think it’s sweet how these people genuinely support one another.
Do you like how therapists are portrayed?
No. It leans hard into the “therapists are a mess” trope. While it is true that most mental health professionals have been through their own pain-filled journeys, the good ones have done their own work to ensure they can show up and actually be helpful to others. Harrison Ford’s character needs Parkinson’s to finally connect with his daughter? Gaby can’t commit to her boyfriend? Some therapists are a mess. Most of the good ones have done their work. The show makes dysfunctional therapists look universal.
Are you messed up?
Not anymore.
Were you messed up?
Yes.
Really?
Yep. Then I spent decades fixing what needed fixing. Therapy, supervision, training, recovery, healthy living, difficult conversations, painful lessons. My clients deserve a therapist who has done his own work and is still doing his own work. And my (current) wife deserves a medal.
Did you see the episode on Shrinking where Jimmy asks his patient to…
Enough about Shrinking. Not everybody has Apple TV.
Why did you become a psychologist?
You know I am not just a psychologist; I am also a family therapist.
Why did you become a psychologist and a family therapist?
I help people, it’s fun, it’s extremely challenging, and it is never boring. Forty years later, I still look forward to Monday morning. A famous writer once said, “I am going to be an even better novelist in my fifties than I am in my forties, and I will be an even better writer in my sixties than in my fifties.” The same is true with being a psychotherapist. As of this moment, I ain’t ever retiring.
What is your therapeutic approach?
Whatever works. After forty years, I’ve stopped being territorial about it. I’m trained in most of the major frameworks (structural, cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, experiential, systemic) and I use whichever one is actually going to help you move. I’m not married to a method. I’m married to results.
Are you married?
Yes. To a saint. She’s a professor who studies recovery from strokes. She sings, she raises chickens, and she fantasizes about getting an EV pickup truck that gets over 600 miles per charge.
Do you take insurance?
Not for decades. I used to take insurance, but then the MBAs at UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross started telling me what to do, and how often I can do it. So, I left.
Was it hard to walk away from accepting insurance?
It was difficult. And risky. And worth it. Every year insurance companies make the lives of providers increasingly difficult. My loyalty is to you, not their claims department.
Will I receive therapy directly from you?
Yes. My practice is a solo, fee-for-service practice, and I treat my clients as I would want my own family members treated. And some of them needed a lot of treatment.
What are your fees?
I currently charge $415.00 for individual sessions (50-minute sessions). Longer individual appointments and family therapy sessions are $500.00 (60-minute sessions).
I have questions about getting insurance reimbursement for you on an “out-of-network” basis. How do I get this information?
Read this: or text Alyssa, my Billing Manager, at (404) 444-6228 — she can answer questions about fees or insurance. Or, if you already know my fees and you're ready to get started, just call me at (404) 237-4300.
What makes your practice so unique?
I return calls until midnight. I respond to emergencies personally. There are no receptionists, no practice managers, no overseas call centers. The buck stops with me, which means when something matters, you’re not waiting for someone to pass a message. The treatment is direct, the results come faster than you’d expect, and I don’t consider “a few years from now” an acceptable timeline.
How long will it take for us/me to see results?
Sooner than your last therapist got around to it. I’m directive by nature and I don’t believe in spending the first three months “establishing rapport.” We’ll establish rapport by doing useful work together. Most people leave the first session with something they didn’t have when they walked in: a reframe, a decision, a direction. That’s not an accident.
Are you always right?
Not even close. But I’m usually wrong faster than most people. If I have a theory about what’s happening, I’ll tell you. If the evidence changes, I’ll change my mind.
How do I reach you?
Call me at 404-237-4300. You will get a callback that day.
Click here for more of the FAQs

How to Determine if Your Insurance Will Help You Pay for Therapy

If you wish to use your insurance, you will need to find out from them what is covered and what is not covered.

Fees

I charge $415.00 for a fifty-minute individual therapy session. Ask your insurance company about procedure code 90837. I currently charge $500.00 for a sixty-minute couple, family, or extended individual therapy session. You can also use the 90837 code to see what they will reimburse for that one-hour session.

Questions to Ask Your Insurance Company

Some insurance plans pay out-of-network benefits. Some pay a substantial amount. Some pay very little. Some pay nothing at all. The only way to know is to call your insurance company and tell them: "I would like to see an out-of-network Licensed Psychologist." Then ask:

  • What is my deductible?
  • What is the maximum reimbursement amount per session?
  • Do I need precertification or prior authorization?
  • Is there a yearly maximum for sessions or benefits?
  • Is there a lifetime maximum?

The Most Important Question

Most people understand deductibles. The question that will really determine how much money you get back is: "What is the maximum dollar amount you consider customary and reasonable for a 90837 psychotherapy session?"

Like most therapists, I charge more than most insurance companies consider "customary and reasonable." Insurance companies generally won't tell me what that number is, but they will often tell you if you ask directly and persist. Here's why that matters.

If an Evil Insurance Company considers $30.00 per session reasonable and reimburses 80%, they will only pay $24.00 per session. If a Good Insurance Company considers $350.00 per session reasonable and reimburses 80%, they will reimburse $280.00 per session. That is a very big difference.

Remember, you — not me — will be getting reimbursed by your insurance company.

Diagnosis Requirement

Please know that you will need a diagnosis to receive reimbursement from your insurance company. For many people, this has no negative impact whatsoever. However, there can occasionally be implications later (for example, if you are applying for life insurance).

Questions?

If you have further questions, please text my Billing Manager Alyssa at (404) 444-6228. She will be happy to answer all your questions; her primary purpose on this planet is to help my current and future clients navigate this stuff.

Thanks,
Dr. Gore
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Dr. Gore has a YouTube channel. It's called The Cynical Psychologist.

Short videos on marriage, parenting, addiction, and why people stay stuck. No fluff. Watch a few — you'll recognize somebody you know.

Browse videos YouTube channel →